The HCAT Public Assisted Households indicator calculates the proportion of neighborhood households that rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), cash public assistance, and/or Food stamps/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to support their income. Income is one of the strongest and most consistent predictors of health and disease in public health research. Studies show that households not earning a self-sufficiency wage may be subject to increases in premature death from all causes for working adults, lower educational outcomes, and higher risks of early childbirth. Self-sufficiency is determined as having an income high enough to meet basic needs (including taxes) without public subsidies such as public housing, food stamps, Medicaid or child care) or private/informal assistance (e.g., free babysitting by a relative or friend, food provided by churches or local food banks, or shared housing). The higher the number of neighborhood households dependent on public assistance, the lower the likelihood household incomes reach a self-sufficient standard (for more information about Self-Sufficient Standards, please go to the Center for Women’s Welfare . Center for Women’s Welfare). Although posted under the Employment Opportunities domain, the Public Assisted Households indicator is also strongly tied to education, economic health, neighborhood characteristics, and housing.